Wednesday, May 1, 2013

A Cage Of My Own


My favorite shot of the week.
 Recently, I have been inundated with work and personal responsibilities.  On one particular day last week, my entire Thursday was booked from sun up to sun down.  Birding would again have to be put on hold. Gardening would have to wait until the weekend.
My day began with the shot above.  If I can't find birds, I look for the overall beauty to keep my mind balanced.  It's not that I'm anti-social, but I work with hundreds of people everyday and it is exhausting.  No matter how hard I try, I can't turn my brain off to help resolve issues.  My morning ride to work with a cup of coffee, some music and lovely landscapes help prepare me for the day ahead.
Here I am trapped at a wedding.  And at a theme wedding of all things!  I hate weddings.  I really really do.  There's no way around them sometimes.  It was a beautiful wedding.  The couple was lovely as was their big event.  But I was trapped.....with my leopard shirt.  Any place that has public gatherings makes me uncomfortable.  At work, I don't mind.  But when I'm home, I enjoy the one on one time.  There was a certain woman(no names:) with her husband that think like I do about big events.  However, they were much more clever than I.  They escaped.  I knew it as I saw the masters stand up and "get some air". She pretended to kiss him but whispered into his ear instead. Oh they were good! Houdini's really.  It just reminded me that I have to develop a code word with Pat.  Maybe, "Cacao." or something like that:)
So I began to focus on random things with my camera.  After dinner, we said our good-byes and walked out into the dark Mesa streets.  Pat just purchased a new camera and was proudly wearing it on the shoulder.  A man from the dark came out of nowhere.  Being the person I am, I always have a plan.  Keys slipped between my fingers to jab the man in the eyes followed by a quick knee to the groin.  However, prevention is key.  I stopped and looked the man straight into the face and told Pat to stop.  As Pat turned, the man quickly ran off.  My birding instincts are quick.  No one will ever hurt Pat.  While there is beauty and art found within our human communities, there is also evil waiting to take advantage of an opportunity.  During those dark times, I transport myself to places I've been and clear my mind of these bad things.  These events happen and when they do, I'm ready. So it's important to find a laugh when I can.  My birding for the day?  One Greater Yellow duck with 4 chicks at a staff meeting.  One, unfortunately, did not make it:)  Mother Nature can be so cruel. At the end of the night, I went to bed and prepared my mind for the next day.


17 comments:

  1. oh, thanks for the humor at the end. :) glad you and pat were safe.

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  2. Jesteś wspaniałym obrońcą kobiety i brawo za to . Na weselu można sie też pobawić i wcale to nie musi być męcząca impreza. Pozdrawiam.
    You're a great defender of women and bravo for that. At the wedding can also have fun and it does not have to be strenuous event. Yours.

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  3. Oh how I know about being 'trapped' in a situation where you would love to get away from!!!!

    I loved going and participating in my son's wedding last October --and I'm happy for him and his bride. BUT--I was SO glad when that wedding was over.. Talk about being out of my comfort zone!!!!! ha (And I won't even mention those high heels I wore! Gads! ha)

    Love the last photo... We can see the humor in everything, can't we???? ha

    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  4. Glad your safe and sound. Never can be too prepared.
    I get it about being so busy. I get that way sometimes and just want to retreat into myself.

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  5. Weddings are not my favorite event either. I did have a laugh over your duck and chicks at the staff meeting. Chris, I am glad you and Pat were Ok.

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  6. Glad you guys were ok!!! All the way around...wedding and quick action with thief. Phew...I was on edge of my seat reading this.
    Julie

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  7. Hahaha, i guess people like us, (i just saw eileennmd's comment) don't like these social gatherings. I laughed also at your mention of your shirt, but that final blow is hilarious! It is good you didn't go there in birding costume! Kidding aside, i still love these photos, as always. Is Pat your wife? I only always read Kathie, your birding partner.

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  8. Good move on your part. Most petty thieves don't want confrontation. But what a scary and stressful thing. Especially on the run from the wedding.

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  9. Pat is my other half:) Kathie is a friend. She's married, but we both have spouses that let us bird together:) It sounds like we're married but we're not. Just good friends:)

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  10. What a day and when you think that sometimes people are sent to play with rubber ducks in a pool to help recover (yes I know someone who did, what an humiliation...)
    Balance in life has its own ways. Don't forget that you have such a wonderful way of writing, teaching and taking non-birds pictures.

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  11. Glad you're both ok Chris - not a nice experience :(

    Not overkeen on social events either - get bored too easily with having to make "polite conversation" :)

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  12. Hahaha, bummer about the poor little duck ... will have to see if I can find that species downunder!!!!

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  13. A lovely capture of the little girl
    Chris:) I don't like weddings either, especially if I'm seated at a table with people I have nothing in common with... boring!!!
    Your blue eyes must have a look of steel to ward off the would be thief,... good man!! Nice touch of humour at the end of your story, made me smile:=)

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  14. Oh you did make me laugh with this one Chris, I needed that it's been a long day here also! The look on your face in your leopard shirt is priceless, fed up to the max :) but you did get some lovely shots, the first is a treasure! I think Pat is in very safe hands with you looking out for her. Have fun with your new lens, looking forward to seeing the results.

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  15. Chris, I know exactly what you mean when it comes to crowds and weddings etc, I can't stand either. In fact I get really freaked out when in a crowded store, and on many occasions have had to make a very quick exit. For me it probably stems from working outside on my own a lot. You do live in a beautiful area, and it must seem quite surreal when faced with yellow ducks at a work meeting.

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  16. I am glad your near miss with an evildoer was just that.

    After 20 years of marriage I have learned to tell my wife ahead of time just how long I plant on staying at an event. It took a while, but I have also been successful in getting her to recognize "the look" when I am ready to leave.

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